Stalk-cutter.



No. 649,|29. Patented-May 8, |900. A. a .1. w. Jones.

STALK CUTTER.

(Application led Oct, 28, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.-

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No. 649,!29. Patented May 8, IQQ.v A. B. '8. J., W` JONES.

STALK GUTTER. l

(Application filed Oct. 28, 1899.)

' (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

lll/111111 llllllll lll/[ y if ff NITED STATESv PATENT Erica.

ALONZO B. JONES AND JOHN WESLEY JONES, OF NATOIITOOHES, LOUISIANA.

STALK-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,129, dated May 8, 1900.

Application Afiled October 28, 1899. Serial No. 735,126. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALONZO B. JONES and JOHN WESLEY JONES, citizens of the United States, residing at Natchitoches, in the parish of Natchitoches and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Stalk-Cutter, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in stalk-cutters.

The object of the present invention is to improve 'the construction of stalk-cutters and to increase their strength, durability, and efliciency and to provide a simple and inexpensive oney which will not become choked with vines and which may be readily adjusted to arrange' the knives in and out of operation.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stalk-cutter constructed in accord.

ance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view. Fig.' 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of vone of the spiders.

Like numerals of reference designate correrectangular box which incases the shaft or` axle and which is interposed between the spiders. The arms of the spiders are provided with longitudinal grooves formed by ribs or flanges 8 and consisting of enlarged inner portions 9 and contracted or narrow outer portions 10 and receiving, respectively, transverse boards 11 `and the blades 2. The boards 1l form radial partitions, and therbs or flanges 8 terminate short of the boss or engrooves 13 to receive the inner ylongitudinal edges of the blades. The spiders are con nected by transverse rods 14, passing through perforations formed in the web portions between the arms and adapted to retain the boards and the knives in engagement with the spiders. The radial boards or partitions stilfen and support the blades and enable very thin ones to `be employed, and there is no liability of the parts of the rotary cutter coming out or working loose.

The spiders are provided at their outer faces with strengthening-ribs, and they have Ahub extensions A15, which offset the spiders from the supporting-frame 16, in which the rotary cutter is mounted. The supporting-frame 16 consists of arched front and rear portions 17 and 18, connected at their tops with a longitudinal draft-beam 19 by the means hereinafter described. The arched front portion 17 of the supporting-frame is composed of a transverse top bar 2O and rearwardly-inclined sides 2l, arranged parallel with each other and provided at their lower or rear ends with extensions forming runners 22, and the said sides are given a quarter-bend to arrange the runners 22 flat against the supporting-surface. The runners 22 are slightly curved and have their front portions inclined upward to enable them to slide readily over the ground. The rear arched portion of the frame is vertical and has upwardly-converging sides secured at their lower ends to the upper faces of the runners and connected between their ends by a transverse bar or beam 23. The transverse bar V2O of the front portion of the supporting-frame is provided at its center with upwardly-extending ears 24, preferably formed integral with a detachable plate and Y perforated for the reception of a pivot or pintle 25, disposed transversely of the draftbeam and passing through an eye 2G of the same. The eye 2 6, which may be of any dee IOC to throw it into and out of operation.

sired construction, is preferably formed integral with a plate or casting secured to the lower face of the draft-beam,`as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. Secured to the sides of the front portion of the supporting-frame are L-shaped bearing-plates 27, extending upward from the said sides and provided above the same with bearing openings for the reception of the transverse shaft or axle of the rotary cutter. The transverse bar or beam 23, which supports the rear portion 1S of the supportingframe, is provided with openings for the reception of the sides of the said rear portion 18 and is secured to the same by suitable fastening devices.

'lhe rear portion of the supporting-frame is provided with a vertical rectangular guide or frame 28, in which is swiveled or journaled a vertical screw 29, having a hand-wheel 30 at its upper end and engaging a threaded opening of a cross-head 31 of the draft-beam. The cross-head 31,' which is secured to the lower face of the draft-beam, is provided at its ends with recesses to receive the sides of the guide or frame 28, and by adjusting the screw 29 the draft-beam will be raised and lowered in the guide or frame, as will be readily apparent. By adjusting the screw the rotary cutter is raised and lowered to carry it to the ground to arrange it in operative position and to raise it above the ground to prevent it from operating. i \Vhen the rotary cutter is elevated above the ground out of operation, the weight rests upon the runners 22, which are adapted to slide readily over the ground, and when the rotary cutter is lowered to its operative position the runners operate to keep the stalk-cutter properly balanced and will prevent the same from upsetting by reason of the rotary cutter sinking too deeply into the ground at one side.

The rear end of the draft-beam carries a seat 32 for the accommodation ot the driver, and the transverse bar or eam projects beyond the arched rear portion 18 and forms convenient rests for the feet of the operator.

A rake 33 is arranged in advance of the rotary cutter, and this rake, which is secured to the draft-beam, is arranged at an inclination and is adapted to adjust itself to the character of the ground. It is composed of two tines or portions connected by a transverse top portion', which may be secured to the draft-beam by any suitable means. The draft-beam is provided at a pointin advance of the pivot of the supporting-frame with a vertical pivot 34, by means of which the whiffletrees are mounted on the draft-beam.

It will be seen that the stalk-cutter is simple and exceedingly inexpensive in construction, that it possesses great strength and durability, and that it may be readily adjusted It will also be apparent that the rotary cutter or cylinder is exceedingly light, that the parts will not work loose or come out, and that it will not become choked or clogged Withvines. Furthermore, it will be apparent that the runners are adapted to support the weight of the machine when the rotary cutter is out ol operation and that when the same is in operation they serve to balance the machine.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing'from the spirit or sacriicing any of the advantages of this invention.

1. A stalk-cutter comprising a draft-beam,

a supporting-frame pivotally connected atA the top with the draft-beam and provided at its bottom with runners, a rotary cutter mounted on the supporting-frame at a point between the draft-beam and the runners, and adjustable connections between the draftbeam and the supporting-frame,substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A stalk-cutter comprising a draft-beam, a supporting-frame having inclined sides pivot-ally connected at the top to the draft-beam and provided at their lower ends with runners, a rotary cutter journaled on the inclined sides between the ends thereof, and means for adj ustably connecting the runners with the draftbeam, substantially as described.

3. A stalk-cutter comprising a longitudinal draft-beam, a supporting-frame composed of an arched front portion provided at the bottom with runners, and a rear portion extending upward from the runners and adjustably connected with the draft-beam, means for pivoting the front portion of the supportingframe to the draft-beam, and a rotary cutter mounted between the sides of the front portion of the su pporting-frame, substantially as described. j

4. A stalk-cutter comprising a supportingframe composed of an arched front portion, a rear portion extending upward from the front portion at the back thereof, said supporting-frame being provided with runners, a vertical guide or frame mounted upon the rear portion of the supporting-frame, a draftbeam pivoted to the front portion of thesupporting-frame and passing through the said guide or frame, means for adj usting the draftbeam in the guide or frame, and a rotary cutter journaled on the supporting-frame, substantially as described.

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5. A stalk-cutter provided with a rotary the radial partitions arranged in the inner portions of the grooves, and the blades fitted in the outer portions of the grooves, substantially as described.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

ALONZO B. JONES. JOHN WESLEY JONES \Vitnesses:

P. E. LEMRE, T. T. GEssIER. 

